Guy wire protector



sept. 29, "1936.

H. E. MILILER ET AL GUY WIRE PROTECTOR Filed Feb. 23, 1935 QWMM.

Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUY WIRE PROTECTOR Pennsylvania Application February 23, 1935, Serial No. 7,897

11 Claims. (Cl. 189-315) This invention relates to guy wire protectors and it is an improvement over the structures shown in the prior patents to Herbert E. Miller, No. 1,933,818, granted November '1, 1933, and 1,902,414, granted March 21, 1933, and the copending application of Herbert E. Miller, Serial No. 732,901, filed June 28, 1934.

In the prior patents referred to there are disclosed two types of guy wire protectors wherein the protector is formed of a suitably shaped single sheet of material having the lower portions. of the protectors so formed as to engage portions of the guy wire structure, such as the guy clamp, to be anchored with respect thereto. Such devices have been found particularly advantageous over prior devices for the reason that they may be economically produced and applied, since no separate fastening elements, such as U-bolts and the like, are necessary. Such devices, moreover, were particularly sturdy in construction and long lasting, the securing means being adapted to hold them permanently in their proper positions.

While the devices referred to possess many advantages over prior constructions, they required the removal of one of the bolts of the guy clamp for securing them in position, and partially for the purpose of providing a structure having similar characteristics and adapted to be secured in position without removing one of the bolts, the structure shown in the copending application referred to was developed. The latter structure also contemplated the use of a unitary guy guard body, and such body was provided with an inwardly off-set portion opening at its lower end downwardly within the guard bodyl and longitudinally thereof to permit it to be slipped over one of the guy guard bolts without the necessity of removing the latter.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a guy guard or protector which embodies all of the desirable characteristics of the prior structures referred to While eliminating the disadvantages thereof.

A further object is to provide such a device wherein the guard is adapted tobe secured in position with respect to the guard clamp or similar device without having to remove any bolts associated therewith.

A further object is to provide a guy guard which may be applied in position by loosening but not removing one of the bolts of a guard clamp or similar device, and wherein no openings in the top portion of the guard are provided through which snow, rain, etc., may enter.

A further object is to provide a guard of the character referred to which will remain in proper position if the bolt by which it is secured should become loosened.

A further object is to provide a guy guard embodying the advantages referred to and wherein the inward off-setting of the body of the guard to provide a securing seat is eliminated together with the expense of dye-stamping or the like required in such off-setting.

Other objects and advantages of the invention 10 will become apparent during the course of the following description.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a guy guard embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a face view of the same, 15

Figure 3' is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, parts being shown in elevation,

Figure 4 is a section on line 4--4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is' a detailed perspective view of a securing clip, 20

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing one of the clips in position,

Figure '7 is a similar view showing the clip in a different position, n

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing a modified form of securing means, and

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 numeral l0 desige nates the body of the guard which is curved in cross section to at least partially surround the guy wire structure throughout the greater portion of the length of the guard. The edges H of the sheet of material from which the guard body is formed are arranged relatively close together throughout a substantial portion of the length of the guard, these edges being spaced apart only a suicient distance to permit the entrance of the guy wire therebetween, as will become apparent. The edge portions of the guy body are cut away fora relatively short distance at the upper end of the guard, as indicated by the numeral I2, and are cut away through a greater length at the lower end of the guard, as indicated by the numeral I3', these cutaway' portions being preferable to provide easy access to the fastening means employed for securing the guard in position. The present invention is particularly directed to the fastening means for the lower end of the guy guard, as it will be apparent that any suitable means (not shown)l may be employed for secur- 50 ing the upper end of the guard. Y

AsC stated, the guard is adapted to surround a portion of the usual guy wire structure, a portion of which is indicated in Figure 3. The guy wire is indicated by the numeral I4, and is secured at 55 its upper end to the pole in the usual manner. The lower end of the wire is passed through the eye or thimble of any desired type of anchor rod and then doubled back upon itself, the two strands of the wire being secured between complementary clamp members I5 which may be of the usual type. The guy clamp members are clamped in position in the usual manner by a plurality of bolts I6 each of which includes a head II and a nut I8. f-

One form of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive and comprises an element in the form of a clip indicated as a whole by the numeral I9. This clip is substantially Z- shaped, one arm of the clip being normally inclined as shown in Figure 5 and being slotted as at 20 to provide spaced parallel arms 2l terminating in laterally extending relatively short lips 22. The arms 2| lie in a plane parallel to the axis of the guard body, when the device is applied, and accordingly lie against the outer face of one of the clamp members I5 beneath one of the bolt heads I'I.

As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the clip I9 includes an intermediate portion 23 extending transversely of the guard body, and terminating in the other arm 24 of the clip which is curved to correspond to the internal transverse curvature of the guard body to lie thereagainst. The arm portion 24 may be secured to the guard body in any suitable manner such as by welding or riveting, and in the present instance, it is shown as being riveted to the guard body as indicated by the numeral 25.

While only one clip I9 is necessary to each guard body, it is preferred that two of these clips be employed, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2, in order to compensate for different heights of the guard clamp from the ground, whereby the lower end of the guy guard may be arranged as closely to the ground as desired. The clips also may be arranged as shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 6, with the slot I9 extending longitudinally with respect to the guard body, or the clip may be turned to the position shown in Figure 7 with the slot 20 arranged transversely of the guard. In the latter case, of course, the arm 24 will be suitably curved to iit against the inner face of the guard body.

In Figures 8 and 9 a modified form of the invention is disclosed. Such form of the invention is employed with identically the same form of guy guard, and such element need not be referred to in detail. The modied form of the device comprises a preferably flat shank 26 preferably Welded at its ends to the guy guard as at 2l. Centrally of its length, the shank 26 is provided with a slot 28 to embrace the shank of one of the bolts I6 with the head I'I of such bolt arranged between the shank 26 and the adjacent portion of the guy guard, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 9.

The operation of the device is as follows:

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, one of the nuts IB is loosened, preferably the nut of the bolt, or one of the bolts, having its head II facing upwardly and outwardly. The upper end of the guard is then connected to the guy wire, according to the nature of the upper fastening means employed, such means usually requiring that the guard be placed in an angular position With respect to the guy Wire to engage the fastening means with the wire, after which the guard body may be swung downwardly. The latter action takes place with the wire moving through the slot provided between the two edges I I to move the wire into the guard, and with the clip I9 arranged above the head of the bolt to which it is to be connected.

If the center bolt is to be employed, as shown in Figure 3, it is necessary toy substantially loosen the nut associated with such bolt to permit the head of the bolt to be backed out suiciently to Vpermit the arms 2I to be engaged therebeneath.

With the head of the bolt thus moved outwardly from the adjacent clamp bolt I5, the guard body is moved longitudinally with respect to the guy wire structure to engage the arms 2| beneath the head of the bolt with the shank of the bolt arranged'in therslot 20. It is then merely necessary to tighten the nut of the bolt, whereupon the guard will be permanently secured in position. To facilitate the placing of the device in position when the center bolt is employed, the arms 2| normally are preferably slightly inclined toward their free ends toward the clamp members, but obviously are bent as the bolt is tightened to engage against the outer face of the adjacent clamp member I6.

The device more easily may be placed in position if the upper bolt is employed as the fastening means since the arms 2I may be moved downwardly directly in engagement with the outer face of the adjacent clamp member I6, it being unnecessary under such conditions to substantially loosen the bolt. It may be preferred to use the form of the device shown in Figure '7, in which case the center bolt must be removed to permit the device to be attached.

The lips 22 do not materially interfere with placing the device in position, since the securing bolt readily may be loosened to a suicient extent to permit the lips 22 to move beneath the bolt head. If, in the course of time, the securing bolts should become slightly loosened, the lips 22 will prevent any upward movement of the guard and thus prevent the displacement thereof.

The operation of the form of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9 is substantially identical with that previously described. This form of device is preferably used with the upper bolt of the guard clamp acting as the securing means. It merely is necessary to loosen the uppermost nut I8 to an extent slightly greater than the thickness of the shank 26, whereupon the bolt may be slid through its opening to space the head of the bolt from the face of the adjacent clamp member I5. The guard body is then moved downwardly until the shank of the bolt is arranged in the upper limit of the slot 28, whereupon the nut may be tightened.

It will be apparent that both forms of the invention permit the guard to be quickly and easily attached without the use of special tools, and without the use of separate fastening elements such as U-bolts and the like, which are relatively expensive to manufacture and which are apt to become misplaced or lost. All of the elements are carried by the guy guard as permanent parts thereof and the device may be applied without any mechanical operation other than the loosening and subsequent tightening of one of the clamp bolts. Moreover, both forms of the invention eliminate the necessity for and the expense involved in the stamping of the guard body to provide inwardly off-set portions engageable against the clamp or other part of the guy wire structure. It also will be apparent that it is unnecessary to remove one of vthe clamp bolts to secure the de- @acm-ezt vice in position, but affthe 'sa-nie timeg'it-isurinecessary to provide'any openings inthe guy guard as in the case of thefstructure shownin copending application Serial Number 732,901, referred to above. While the latter lstructure is highly advantageous over prior structures, the openings in the guard body permit the entrance of snow, rain, etc., into the guard body, which is prevented with the present construction. The form of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9, while not quite so flexible in its application as the other forms of the invention, possesses somewhat of an advantage in that the shank 26 acts as a reinforcing member for the guard body.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. A guy guard comprising an elongated metal body adapted to be arranged over a guy wire structure including a guy wire and a clamp and anchor therefor, said guy wire structure including a headed element, and a securing member formed as a separate piece from and rigidly secured to said guard body and provided with a portion arranged parallel to the axis of the guard body and having a slot to receive the headed element of the guy wire structure, said securing member being enclosed by said guard body.

2. A guy guard comprising an elongated metal body adapted to be arranged over a guy wire structure including a guy wire and a clamp and anchor therefor, said guy wire structure including a headed element, and a securing member formed as a separate piece from said guard body and having an end portion rigidly secured thereto, said securing member having a second portion spaced from and enclosed within the guard body and parallel to the axis thereof, and provided with a slot toy receive the headed element of the guy wire structure.

3. A guy guard comprising an elongated metal body adapted to be arranged over a guy wire structure including a guy wire and a clamp and anchor therefor, said guy wire structure including a headed element, and a securing member having two spaced substantially parallel end portions one of which is rigidly secured to said guard body, the other end portion of said securing member being enclosed within said guard body and having a slot to receive the headed element of the guy wire structure.

4. A guy guard comprising an elongated metal body adapted to be arranged over a guy wire structure including a guy wire and a clamp and anchor therefor, said guy wire structure including a headed element, and a securing element having spaced substantially parallel end portions connected by an integral base portion, one end portion of said securing member being rigidly secured to said guard body, the other end portion of said securing member being enclosed within said guard body and having a downwardly opening slot toreceive the headed element of the guy wire structure.

5. A guy guard comprising an elongated metal body adapted to be arranged over a guy wire structure including a guy wire and a clamp and anchor therefor, said guy wire structure including a headed element, and a securing member having two spaced substantially parallel end portions oneof whi'ch'is rigidly secured to said guard body-,fthe otherl endportion' ofv said securing membe'rhaving a slot to receive vthe headed elenient of the guy wire'structure, the lpwerextremities-ofthe arms *formed by said slot being provided with laterally turned Alips extending toward the first named end portion 'of said securing member.

6. A guy guard comprising an elongated metal body adapted to be arranged over a guy wire structure including a guy wire and a clamp and anchor therefor, said guy wire structure including a headed element, and a securing element having spaced substantially parallel end portions connected by an integral base portion, one end portion of said securing member being rigidly secured to said guard body, the other end portion of said securing member having a slot to receive the headed element of the guy wire structure, the extremities of the arms formed by said slot being provided with laterally turned lips extending toward the first named end portion of said securing member.

7. A guy guard comprising an elongated metal body adapted to be arranged over a guy wire structure including a guy wire and a clamp and anchor therefor, said guy wire structure including a headed element, and a securing element formed as a separate member from said guard body and secured at both ends thereto, said securing member being enclosed within said guard body and having a downwardly opening slot to receive the headed element of the guy wire structure.

8. A guy guard comprising an elongated metal body adapted to be arranged over a guy wire structure including a guy wire and a clamp and anchor therefor, said guy wire structure including a headed element, and a flat relatively rigid securing member formed as a separate element from said guard body and rigidly secured at its ends thereto, said securing member being enclosed within said guard body and being provided intermediate its ends with a downwardly opening slot to receive the headed element of the guy Wire structure.

9. A guy guard comprising an elongated metal body adapted to be arranged over a guy wire structure including a guy Wire and a clamp and anchor therefor, said guy wire structure including a headed element, and an integral securing member comprising an intermediate portion and end portions extending in opposite directions from opposite edges of said intermediate portion, one of said end portions being secured to said guard body and the other being enclosed within the guard body and provided with a slot to receive the headed element of the guy wire structure.

10. A guy guard comprising an elongated metal body adapted to be arranged over a guy wire structure including a guy wire and a clamp and anchor therefor, said guy wire structure including a headed element, and an integral securing member comprising an intermediate portion and end portions extending in opposite directions from opposite edges of said intermediate portion, one of said end portions being secured to said guard body and the other being enclosed within the guard body and arranged parallel to the axis of said guard body, said last named end portion extending downwardly longitudinally of the guard body and being provided with a downwardly opening slot to receive the headed element of the guy wire structure.

11. A guy guard comprising an elongated metal body adapted to be arranged over a. guy wire structure including a guy wire and a clamp and anchor therefor, said guy Wire structure including a headed element, and a iiat relatively rigid securing member enclosed within said guard body and arranged in a plane parallel to the axis thereof and elongated perpendicular thereto, said securing member having parallel end edges rigid- 1y secured to said guard body and being provided intermediate its ends with a downwardly opening slot to receive the headed element of the guy wire structure.

HERBERT E. MILLER. FRED R. KRUEGER. 

